The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Division of Public Health Services, Bureau of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) has worked with local jurisdictions to develop a statewide, comprehensive Strategic National Stockpile/Receipt Staging and Storage (SNS/RSS) program for the State of Arizona. ADHS is in charge of receiving federal assets from the Division of Strategic National Stockpile at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In turn, local jurisdiction RSS sites will receive assets from ADHS. The final step in the distribution of vaccines, prophylaxis or other medical countermeasures to the local population is the Point of Dispensing (POD) sites. The Arizona State University Decision Theater has previously developed an interactive throughput model which was designed to analyze throughput capability for delivering medical countermeasures following a biological event. In an effort to prepare the community for a potential resurgence of the novel H1N1 influenza strain, Pinal County (AZ) Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response intends to adapt this exercise and simulation model for influenza vaccinations.

The objective is to use a computer-based, interactive, throughput model that will exercise, evaluate and optimize Pinal County's ability to conduct mass vaccinations for influenza. The model and exercise will adhere to the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program's sequential approach to exercise program development. The model and exercise will also allow administrators from Pinal County to analyze their throughput capability in a realistic, virtual environment that simulates multiple PODs, multiple POD types, and the challenges associated with efficient POD design.